Sorry for the long wait kids. I've been busy. Thanks for your love!

I don't own.

Eight footsteps crunched their way through the sand in silence with, the wind blew softly but strong enough for the travelers to feel the need to shield their eyes each time a gust picked up. Between the sun and the wind the group was able to dry off fairly well. After having just defeated a Sandworm it was obvious that there was some competition going for Freya wore the grin and Zidane walked with his head hung down, moping, "No fair, you had the blue mage on your team."

As Freya knew the monkey tailed thief was referring to Quina she said enjoying his moments of defeat, "You wanted to pick first, it was your fault. You should have known Vivi needed an ether, he hadn't had one since the fight with Beatrix. Also Quina didn't find any food in Burmecia so it was natural that he or she ate a monster."

Quina licked its lips in satisfaction, the Sandworm tasted better than the bats she last ate while in Burmecia, "I taste better but it still was yummy."

The tree was getting closer to the group as they trudged along. The sight alone was enough for Freya to want to pick up her pace as if it wasn't fast enough. The events from earlier still plagued her mind, "Who is this man named Kuja? How is he connected in all of this? That child that was with him, how could a child so young be so cruel?" The dragon knight remembered Zidane mentioning something about the child and felt the need to inquire about him, "That boy that was with this Kuja, you said he is Jen's brother, correct?"

Zidane held his hands over his eyes as another gust rolled through, it was going to take weeks before he could get rid of the sand as it was in his hair and in his clothes. As he followed behind Freya, he responded remembering the detailed description he received from Jen on the old cargo ship before they had reached Lindblum, "Yeah..." Zidane replayed the image of Josh murdering that guy who was looking for Jen, he said out loud while still in thought, "He killed his own friend...Who was that guy?"

Vivi held on tight to his hat in hopes that it would not fly out from his clutches, he stumbled every so often when the gusts were pretty strong. He had been hanging onto every word that was being said asked out of curiosity, "Are you going to tell Jen?"

Zidane glanced over to Vivi, the small mage had not been interested in most of the conversations that went on until now sighed as he answered honestly, "I'm not sure." He asked openly for some advice, "What should I do?"

Vivi who still held onto his hat, had also been struggling for an answer, though it was different than this, answered his friends question from his heart, "Tell her the truth."

Zidane shook his head, he couldn't imagine how upset Jen would be, to have to tell her that the little brother she had been looking for murdered her friend and possibly had a hand in the attack of Burmecia. He thought about what Vivi had said and sighed, "You're right Vivi."

The sun was now blocked by the sandstorm that protected Cleyra. Freya had been looking down as the winds had picked up, she was glad to hear that Zidane would tell this Jen of what they knew. Freya raised her head and saw the tree was right before them she now shouted as the sound of the wind picked up, "The tempest subsides." She kneeled down onto her left leg, "By the gods!"

Zidane who at first did not understand what she meant and now realized her inner turmoil was subsiding, quickly said as another gust picked up, "C'mon, let's go while we can!"

Freya stood and turned to see Zidane, she noticed a dead tree was suffering whip lash she said loudly, "Indeed. Let us press on."

Quina who continued to amuse Freya with his or her care free attitude shouted over the sounds of the high winds, "Must hurry, must find yummy-yummies!"

Zidane followed Freya as she led the group onto a bridge, he paused as he looked up to the tree, which was covered in moss and had some flowers growing up towards the top. It had to have been the biggest tree he had ever laid eyes on. The roots itself were also a sight itself to witness. The thief clearly had never seen anything like it in his life. They crossed the long bridge and made their way into a small tunnel which was covered with more roots and sand, Zidane had a feeling that they would be seeing a lot of that.

Freya walked over to an ancient door, she ran her fingers along it feeling that it was made of steel, she looked over to Zidane, "There should be a lever somewhere."

Zidane noticed a set of stairs that was supported by a root to his right, they too were covered with sand, he turned around to see Vivi looking up and Quina sniffing the place out, he figured he would be doing the leg work and ran up the stairs. He found an old rusty lever in a circulor form that was also covered with sand, he brushed it off and pulled the handle up towards him as hard as he could and heard the door open. Zidane turned to Freya who had gone through, he ran down the stairs, "Wait!" He ran out and saw that Freya was gone, he also noticed a treasure chest and couldn't resist the impulse to go check it out. He quickly opened it and grabbed the phoenix down, he ran uphill and turned around to make sure Vivi and Quina were right behind him which they were. Zidane called out again as he made his way to the next room, "Freya!"

Freya who was kneeling in the sand and checking out some Magician Shoes stood and turned towards Zidane thinking it was important as he called out, "What is it?"

Zidane chided the dragon knight, "You shouldn't go running off like that! You don't know what's ahead!"

Freya gave Zidane a sharp look, "For someone who lost the Festival of Hunt, you don't give me much credit. I'm fine on my own, in fact I'm sure I've fought more monsters than you."

Zidane argued, "These aren't just any monsters that you can find in the mist, and what if Beatrix was up here? She would've knocked you flat like last time."

Freya let out a breath of air, she could see Zidane's point but she knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself on her own but she decided to fight him on this subject later, "Then let us continue together."

Zidane who was satisfied with that answer nodded his head in agreement to Freya's suggestion. He continued to let Freya lead the way out of respect. Her people lived on this tree, not his, "As if I have people..."

The group followed Freya on the winding path out from the thick overlapping roots that led them up the tree. Zidane noticed that Freya turned left rather suddenly

Freya called out to everyone, "Careful not to fall."

Zidane ran out he had to stop himself from going over, in a short time they had climbed up fairly high, "Whoa!" He looked up to Freya who had either jumped or climbed up the vines that seemed to tangle together, it appeared that she was checking out another door, "Is there another lever?"

Freya stood and looked around, she noticed the small path that led upwards. She pointed and ordered, "Take Vivi with you and follow that path, there might be a lever over there."

Zidane nodded and looked over to Vivi, "C'mon, let's go."

Vivi nodded his head and followed Zidane up the path.

They made their way into what appeared to be a dead end, Zidane walked over to a treasure chest pulling out an ether, he looked around, "Now what?"

Vivi who was now standing next to the treasure chest looked over the edge and peered down, he stood up and looked around trying to help Zidane. Vivi noticed a root had been sticking out, he made sure not to run into it and made his way next to Zidane. He pointed to a small hole, "What's that?"

Zidane looked down at the hole, at first he thought it was nothing but then again this was an ancient tree, he shrugged figuring he hadn't much to lose and stuck his hand in the hole. As he was reaching around he felt a metal sticking out, he pulled on it until he heard a click. Zidane stood up and looked to Vivi to praise him but he could see that his small friend was looking at something else, "What's wrong Vivi?"

Vivi pointed to the sand that had not been pouring until Zidane had pulled the lever, he was a little nervous as he wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing, "There's sand."

Zidane looked at the sand and he hesitated before speaking, "Let's see if it opened the door." Zidane ran out with Vivi behind him making sure not to fall off the tree, he looked to Freya who stayed with Quina, he saw that the door was now open and was glad to know that Freya waited for him. Zidane looked at the enterance they came through, it was now being flooded with sand. He climbed up the first set of vines and onto the ledge before climbing up the next set of vines and ran into the next room. It reminded him of a sandy cave as he followed Freya and Quina, it was a fairly spacious area and his eyes caught another treasure chest in it were a pair of Magician Shoes, "I'll probably give these to Vivi." He stood and noticed Freya was standing waiting for him to hurry up, he picked up his pace as the dragon knight went off into the next room, he slowed his pace and asked, "Isn't it strange that we haven't ran into any monsters yet?"

As he finished asking his question a wave of sand knocked him backwards, he quickly jumped to his feet and unsheathed his Orge prepared to attack. Zidane looked up at the huge Sand Golem that was now in front of him. Even though it was sand, the Sand Golem appeared to have abs and bulging muscles that a wrestler would have, it was a little intimidating for Zidane.

Freya jumped to Zidane's side, her Mythril Spear was in her left hand and ready to swing. She said in an annoyed tone as she landed next to the thief, "You had to ask."

Zidane grinned as he gripped his Orge getting ready to strike, he knew that he had upset her, "You know how I like to have fun."

Freya rolled her eyes, she looked to Vivi who held his lightning staff and was already beginning to cast Thundara. She looked over to Quina and smile as he or she held its fork and did it little sway that he or she did whenever fighting. Freya watched as Zidane struck the Sand Golem's red core which brought the thing to life. She held her spear and attacked the monster slicing near the core, she knew it would be pointless to attack the sand itself as it would just regroup.

Vivi then took a shot at the monster by casting Fira around the Sand Golem, it melted some of the sand away and it seemed to be effective as firey embers struck the core.

Quina then jabbed his or her fork into the sand monster, it was obviously hoping to make that Sand Golem a snack.

The Sand Golem then sucked in a large amount of air and breathed sand out all over knocking the group that was attacking him backwards.

Sand fell off of Zidane as he stood up, he still held his orge and attacked the Sand Golems' core, it made a slight crack but it did not defeat the over grown sand-man. The Sand Golem then countered the attack by wailing his huge fist on Zidane sneding him flying.

Freya decided to take her chance by jumping up and piercing the red core of the Sand Golem as it began to pull back. The Sand Golem let out a loud scream, sand blew everywhere as the monster began to fade away.

Zidane stood up sheathing his Orge, he walked over to Freya as he looked at the red core which was now shattered into pieces, "It's amazing what one rock can do."

Freya stared at the shards and nodded in agreement, she turned and began walking up the sandy path deciding not to quote a proverb.

Zidane notcied yet another treasure chest, he smiled to himself as he opened up the chest pulling out a Needle Fork, he glanced over to Quina as he or she held a plain fork, "Hey Quina! I have something for ya!"

Quina who had been sniffing around a sandy waterfall turned to face Zidane, "What is it? You find yummy-yummies?"

Zidane shook his head, he thought it was funny how Quina was always thinking about food, "No, I found a weapon you can use."

Quina took the weapon from Zidane and examined it. He or she tossed its Fork into the sand and happily sheathed its new Needle Fork and put it away, "I find no tastys here."

Zidane followed Freya and Vivi up the sandy hill, he almost had to grip onto a root to help pull himself up but he managed to make it up his own strength. Another treasure chest happened to catch his eye he opened it and pulled out a tent, something that would prove to be very useful. He walked over towards a moogle and watched as Vivi exchanged letters with it, he thought it was amusing and an interesting way to keep in contact with the moogles who seemed to help out whenever they needed to set up camp.

Zidane noticed that Freya and Quina were already gone, he looked over to Vivi who ran past him, he followed Vivi. They arrived at a set of stairs and still no sign of Freya and Quina. He saw a treasure chest on the left set of stairs, "Vivi, wait there while I check out that chest over there."

Vivi nodded his head, "O-okay."

Zidane ran up the set of stairs and quickly pulled a tent out of the chest, he ran back down towards Vivi, he was trying to hurry so he could catch up with Freya and Quina, he didn't like the buddy system too much. Zidane ran up the stairs on the right, his pace didn't slow much when he came across an old wooden bridge. He stoppped to make sure Vivi was behind him, he found the small mage standing before the bridge, it was known he was scared for only a moment as Vivi then ran across trying not to drag the group down. Zidane and Vivi found Freya and Quina standing before three sets of tunnels.

Zidane paused for a moment, "Which one do we take?"

Freya turned towards Zidane, "The tunnel on the left is the only one we have not yet gone through."

Zidane was glad to see that they at least waited for him, he was still curious as to wat was down those other two tunnels, "So did you find anything good down there?"

Quina shook his or her head, "Me still no find yummy-yummies. I keep looking."

Freya smirked as she saw Zidane shake his head, she knew what he meant, "Yes we found some treasures. I even pulled a lever that could lead us to another chest but we'll only know if we keep moving forward."

Zidane nodded his head and followed Freya through the left tunnel. As they came through the tunnel, Zidane noticed a small passge leading upwards through another tunnel, "I'll be right back." He ran up into the tunnel and saw a treasure chest he ran over to it and noticed the lever Freya mentioned. He opened the chest and pulled out an elixir, he stuffed it into his pocket and ran back to where the others were waiting.

As Freya saw Zidane return she then led the group down the path that would eventually lead them out of this maze. She stopped suddenly, almost causing Quina to run into Vivi and Zidane into Quina, "Careful, there's quick sand up ahead, who knows where you'll end up if you happen to fall in." Freya was the first to cross through the quick sand, she watched as Quina and Vivi managed to make their way through, she was actually surprised. Freya honestly thought that one of them was going to get sucked in, she then watched as Zidane tried to get the treasure chest that was directly in front a quick sand, "Zidane, just leave it! It's probably a trap!"

Zidane shook his head, he sounded like an addict, "No! I'm positive that there's something good in here, I can feel it!"

Freya watched as the hopeless thief made to the treasure chest, he pulled out what appeared to be an elixir. She watched as he took a step back, his foot then slipped and he fell into the quick sand. Freya still stood, remaining in the same place, she wore an annoyed expression, "Now I'm going to have to get you out of there."

Zidane struggled as he was going in circles while being pulled in, he shouted back still keeping his cool, "This is nothing." He tried pulling his legs upwards, they felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each, but it seemed to work so he started moving his legs faster. Zidane's legs then felt light enough that he quickly jumped out landing next to another quick sand. He inched away from the quick sand, walking along the sides to be sure he didn't fall in again, he finally made it to the clearing.

Freya then asked, "Was it even worth the trouble?"

Zidane smiled, "You know it was."

Freya sighed refusing to argue with the head strong boy, she turned away and kept moving on. A huge gust of wind mixed in with sand hit her face as there was no wall protecting the passage, only what was left of it and that wasn't much. She covered her face and rounded the corner quickly, trying to get away from that as fast as possible. Freya looked up and saw that there was an old ladder made of wood and vines, she questioned the safety of it before gripping it, it felt sturdy enough to her.

Zidane noticed a treasure chest behind the ladder, he also noticed the how the sand storm protecting the tree seemed to have an orange tint to it. He ran over to the chest and pulled out some Gysahl Greens, "I can give these to Choco." He ran back towards the ladder noticing that Vivi and Quina had already gone up, he then climbed up as well. As he climbed up he saw a set of stairs, again he was left in the dust, he ran up the set of stairs noticing that everyone else had stopped. Zidane then saw two rats clothed in green robes wearing a funny yellow hat, they looked like the rats from Burmecia excpet their fur was lighter and they each had a black stripe on their faces.

The rat on the right looked to Freya, examining her before asking, "Might you be Lady Freya?"

Freya stepped forward, replying with the same formality, "Indeed, I am."

The rat on the left then said, "I am Satrea, this here is Kildea, we have awaited you coming my lady." Satrea bowed slightly as he introduced himself.

Freya who apparently did not these people asked out of curiosity while still upholding, "How did you come to know of my identity?"

Kildea replied to Freya's question with a hint of a smile, "The king of Burmecia has requested that we guide you to him."

Freya who was more than happy to learn this information then shouted, "Long live the king! Take me to him immediately!"

Satrea bowed again slightly, "At once my lady."

Freya turned to see Zidane, she had some business to discuss with the king, "Zidane, I shall go to see the king. Why not take this chance to rest?"

Zidane gave a nod, he knew that king who was facing a disaster like this would have nothing to say to him, "Yeah, good idea."

Satrea then motioned for Freya to follow, "This way my lady."

Zidane watched as Freya left with Satrea, he turned to Kildea who then offered to guide him around the town. Zidane declined, he wanted to explore on his own. He walked towards the stairs checking the place out, "Kind of a strange place, don't ya think? Hey, Vivi and Quina, let's just poke around the town a little, okay?"

Vivi responded in an uncertain tone, he remembered how the rats in Burmecia treated him when he was just trying to help, he felt that Zidane had forgotten this but he didn't want to remind him, "Uh...OKay. Let's."

Quina responded with a positive outlook, "I go search for tasty munchies!"

Zidane figured that both Vivi and Quina would be fine on their own and that they would all meet up when Freya was done talking to the king. He let out a yawn which was a sign to him that he was tired which wasn't much of a surprise to him, he had gone up against the general of Alexandria who wasn't an easy opponent. Zidane then decided he would find an inn somewhere and go take a quick nap before he scoped this place out for treasures.

"AAACHOO!"

Jen sat upright in bed, she blinked and rubbed her eyes wondering what that noise was, "It sounded like a loud..sneeze...I wonder if it's Baku." Jen stood up, she made her way to the door, she opened it and closed it quietly, she turned to the stairs gripping the banister and quickly made her way down. Jen looked to the innkeeper who was watching her and smiled at him.

The inn keeper informed Jen, "You slept for 2 hours, you sure you got enough sleep?"

Jen nodded her head holding back a yawn, she replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. I thought I heard a sneeze."

The inn keeper wasn't sure if he should tell her that Baku was down there talking with Marcus, he wasn't told that Baku was expecting more visitors.

Jen stared at the guy as he wasn't being as chatty as before. She looked to the other set of stairs and made her way for them, she could feel the inn keepers eyes on her as she slowly walked down the steps.

Baku heard the steps on the staircase creak, he looked up to see Jen and asked in a suspicious gruff voice, "Who're you?"

Marcus turned around to see Jen cringing for being caught, he let out a sigh that indicated he was annoyed, "That's Jen, Zidane helped her escape Evil Forest and she's traveling with the princess now."

Baku examined her for a moment before replying, "So you're that Noble that carries wads of cash on ya. I see that's how you repay my boys after I give you some weapons for free."

Jen felt sheepish for getting caught but she felt a little enraged that Baku was assuming that she was unappreciative, "That's not how it is, I am grateful."

Baku shrugged a little, "Well if yer so grateful then you can help Marcus here retrieve the Super Soft."

Jen always wondered how it was they found the time to locate the item, "So you've found it. You must have had some extra eyes. Where is it?"

Baku nodded his head, "You ferget, I'm the leader of Tantalus. It's located in an old store and being that it's locked up at night we can't just go bargin' in there, we would cause another scene. I rented a boat so we could sneak in the back through the sewer."

Jen was slightly amazed at how well planned out this was, "So when do we start?"

Marcus looked over to Jen, "As soon as the Princess arrives."

Heh.

That was a long chapter.

Please fell free to review!

-Huggyssupreme

=)